If Western people have Halloween festival, then Chinese people have the Hungry Ghost Festival. The purpose of both Halloween and Hungry Ghost Festival is the same which is to honor the deceased. The Hungry Ghost Festival is held on the 7th month of the Lunar Calendar of Chinese. It is usually takes place between August and September. Chinese people believe that on the Hungry Ghost Festival the gate of the hell is opened and the ghosts inside it come back to the earth to look for food. This kind of festival is not only celebrated in China but also in many countries where Chinese people are found.

The Hungry Ghost Festival came from the tale about one person named Arahat Maudgalyayana seeking for his deceased parents’ condition. He found out that his father had gone to the heaven, but his mother lied in the Hungry Ghost realm. Trying to wipe out his mother’s misery, the boy found a way to transfer food from the reality to the Hungry Ghost realm. This tale became the tradition of Chinese people who believe that sending food to the deceased ones may ease their pains in their realm.

Hungry Ghost Festival

The way to celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival is by preparing some foods for the returning ghosts. Aside from foods, Chinese people also prepare money, and other items made of paper to be burned for their ancestors. People believe that the ancestors will receive all of the burning items in their afterlife. Another spooky tradition of the Hungry Ghost Festival can be found in Singapore and Malaysia in which people hold some Chinese operas and concerts for the deceased ones. The way to make sure that the deceased enjoy the operas and concerts is by providing some empty seats in front. The spooky thing is that people believe the ghosts of their ancestors will sit in those empty seats to watch the operas.

Many taboos are applied by Chinese people during the Hungry Ghost Festival such as not to wander at night, not to go swimming, not to have a trip, not to get married, and many more. As a result, most entertainment places are empty in the countries celebrating the Hungry Ghost Festivals.

Hungry Ghost Festival 2012 will be celebrated by Chinese in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Taiwan & Hongkong.

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